Battle Fever Robo is another quality entry into Bandai’s Soul of Chogokin line. It is also one of the Smallest SOC robots released, just a bit taller than Xabungle. In fact, Battle Fever Robo is almost exactly the same size as the original Popy toy.

Battle fever Robo comes from the Sentai show Battle Fever J. In it, a multinational team pilots the Battle Fever Robo against the monster of the week. Originally intended to be a sequel to the Japanese Spider Man show, Battle Fever became a hit in its own right, and earning a place in history as the first Sentai show to feature a giant robot.

This SOC version of battle Fever Robo is a faithful recreation of the character from the show. It looks equally like a guy in a suit and a giant robot. It is both chogokin and action figure. It is awesome.

Battle Fever Robo comes in a box measuring 24.3 x 20.3 x 7.5 cm and weighing in at 620g. Upon opening the box, you are presented with a styrofoam tray (yes!), a tray for the accessories and a tray for the stand parts. The accessory tray has an additional cover of decorative die cut cardboard, with windows and names of each accessory.

Display Stand

The stand comes in pieces, and there aren’t any instructions as to how to assemble it. Fortunately, it’s easy to figure out based on the box art. The nameplate is engraved, and there are grooves cut out to position Battle Fever Robo’s feet. Pegs on the back hold the extra fists. Each one of Battle Fever Robo’s accessories can fit on the stand – nothing is left in the package.

Weapons

Battle Fever Robo comes with an impressive array of SOLID METAL weapons. That’s right; each weapon is made out of metal. The weapons alone are amazing. Included are:

Knuckle Puncher (2)

Fever Axe

Sword Fever (2)

Stick Attacker

Cane Knocker

Attack Lancer

Lightning Sword katana w/scabbard

Battle Shield

Battle Fever Robo

Ok, so it’s not the biggest SOC, and it doesn’t have the highest metal content. But it is awesome nonetheless. The head crest, upper chest and legs are all metal, giving the toy enough weight to make it feel good in your hand.

The head is an interesting part. The metal horns are a nice touch, but it’s the neck system that is really unique for an SOC. It’s a rubber tube, anchored to the body at one end, and the other accepts the ball on the bottom of the head. The result is a particularly lifelike range of emotion, but I wonder about the long term durability of this part. Will the rubber dry up and rot away? Only time will tell.

The body contains a chest joint and a waist joint. The arms attach at the shoulder with a multi position joint underneath flexible shoulder pads. The forearms have small compartments that contain Battle Fever Robo’s Chain Crusher. Each chain has a small spring loaded clasp at the end for attachment to weapons such as the Attack Lancer.

The legs appear to be metal, aside from the armor and the feet. 2 yellow holsters on the legs can hold the Sword Fever Attack Knives.

Battle Fever Robo also comes with 7 hands in varying positions. The hands feel sturdy, and I had no problems with them whatsoever. Putting the metal weapons in them requires a bit of effort, and sometimes the hands pop off their pegs, but they snap back on.

Overall, I am ecstatic about Battle Fever Robo. He is fun to play with, has a ton of accessories and is solidly built. He also looks badass.

I saw the image, and I still say that it's not "supposed" to go in. The BFJ is not on the tray, and you have to fudge it to get it in (turn the legs sideways maybe?). I'm not going to advocate it, cause you may damage the thighs if you try to force him in. I don't want anyone breaking their BFR cause I said it would fit.

I gotta put a quick comment in here since Super Sentai is my area of expertise here on CDX...

You kinda touched on it near the beginning, Josh, but didn't quite finish the idea. The two preceding shows- "Himitsu Sentai GoRanger" (1975-77) & "JAKQ Dengeki Tai" (1977)- did not have giant robots; instead using large vehicles with special weapons and other gimmicky features. It is the use of the Battle Fever Robo in "Battle Fever J" which truly makes it the first Super Sentai series; the preceding two were just generally referred to as Sentai (which they are). Adding the word "Super" to a Super Sentai series means that the battles in each series are fought on two differently-scaled battlefields- human-size, and giant-size. (Ex: the tokusatsu version of "Sailor Moon"- made also by Toei, who produces the Super Sentai Series- would be considered a "Sentai" show, but not a "Super Sentai" since it doesn't use giant monsters/robots on a regular basis [if at all].)
It was not until over a decade later that "GoRanger" and "JAKQ" were officially added to the Super Sentai Series count, even though they did not have those giant-sized battles in them, but were the direct precursors to the sub-genre as we know it.

While "Spider-Man" (1978) has a giant robot, the Leopardon, it is not part of the sub-genre because there is only one armored hero; thus it is not a Sentai ("taskforce" or "squadron"), but since it precedes "Battle Fever J", it can be called an inspirational predecessor. In fact, it was Toei's contract with Marvel Comics which brought about "Battle Fever J"!

. . .

Oh, and for the record, I never really liked the Battle Fever Robo, even though it is the ancestor of what I do best here on CDX. It's just too old-school for my taste, and it don't transform. ;)
------------------------------
CollectionDX Staff